Shloka 183
Puṣkara Sacrifice: Gāyatrī’s Marriage, Sāvitrī’s Wrath, Rudra’s Test, and the Tīrtha-Māhātmya
स्मर्तव्या भूमिकामैर्वा तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि तेग्रतः । सावित्री पुष्करे नाम तीर्थानां प्रवरे शुभे
smartavyā bhūmikāmairvā tatpravakṣyāmi tegrataḥ | sāvitrī puṣkare nāma tīrthānāṃ pravare śubhe
Atau bagi mereka yang menginginkan tingkatan-tingkatan amalan suci, hal ini patut diingati. Kini aku nyatakan kepadamu dengan jelas: Tīrtha Sāvitrī di Puṣkara—penuh berkat, yang terunggul antara segala tīrtha.
Unspecified (narrator continuing a dialogue; commonly transmitted as Pulastya speaking to Bhīṣma in Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa contexts)
Concept: Sacred geography is to be remembered and approached in stages (bhūmikā); naming a tīrtha is itself a devotional act that orients the seeker toward siddhi.
Application: Create a ‘tīrtha calendar’: periodically visit a local sacred water/temple, and daily ‘remember’ (smaraṇa) one holy place to cultivate steadiness and aspiration.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sunlit view of Puṣkara: the sacred lake glitters with steps (ghāṭs), pilgrims carrying water pots, and a temple spire rising beyond. A sage-teacher gestures as if ‘mapping’ the holy land in speech, while the name ‘Sāvitrī’ seems to shimmer above the water like a mantra made visible.","primary_figures":["Sage narrator (Pulastya-like teacher figure)","Pilgrims (siddhi-seekers)","Sāvitrī/Devī as a subtle presiding presence"],"setting":"Puṣkara lake ghāṭs with temples, flags, banyan/peepal trees, and distant Aravalli hills.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["desert ochre","turquoise water","marigold orange","white marble","vermillion red"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Puṣkara lake with stepped ghāṭs, central Devī Sāvitrī seated on a lotus with gold leaf halo, pilgrims offering lamps and water; rich reds/greens, embossed gold on jewelry and temple spires, ornate lotus borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate rendering of ghāṭs and calm lake, pilgrims in soft textiles, sage pointing toward a small Sāvitrī shrine; cool morning palette with lyrical hills, fine facial features and gentle narrative clarity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized lake bands and temple tower, Devī Sāvitrī with characteristic large eyes and bold outlines; warm yellow-red-green pigments, rhythmic patterns on ghāṭ steps and borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central lotus-lake motif with concentric floral borders; vignettes of pilgrims performing snāna and dīpa-dāna; deep blue water, gold highlights, peacocks and lotuses framing the Puṣkara sanctity."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["ghāṭ bells","water lapping on steps","pilgrim murmurs","conch shell (temple)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhūmikāmaiḥ + vā -> bhūmikāmairvā (Visarga to 'r'); te + agrataḥ -> tegrataḥ (Purvarupa Sandhi).
FAQs
It highlights Puṣkara as a key pilgrimage center and identifies the Sāvitrī-tīrtha there as especially auspicious and preeminent among holy places.
By elevating a specific tīrtha as “foremost,” the verse encourages devotional remembrance and pilgrimage-oriented piety—common bhakti expressions tied to sacred landscapes.
The verse models faithful transmission: remember what is worthy of remembrance, and communicate sacred knowledge plainly and directly for the benefit of the listener.